John's Auto Body

Best auto body repairs in Sonoma co. The owner does the actual repairs so you know that the repairs were done right. John never let's the car leave the shop until je is happy with the repairs.

John does all the work and has been in the business for years with amazing experience. He is honest and cares about his customers. If you want your car in goods hand take it to John's Auto Body!

It's hard enough to try to have a car repaired right without the headaches of a dishonest shop. Now for those who do have insurance, they only have to worry about the adjustor, who'll go only so far in violating the law (although many are not shy to try and the first thing they will do is select a substandard shop to do the work, which is why a busy establishment is not necessarily a good sign). It's much more difficult if one's paying cash, however.



Not that even a thorough effort is guaranteed to reveal all that is wrong, but it is imperative to check out a shop very thoroughly. On the internet, most people start with the Better Business Bureau to see if there is some derogatory information. Some shops may not be known to the BBB, but are very familiar to the BAM (Bureau of Automotive Repair). Specific offices, such as the one in Hercules, might be more helpful than others in this regard. And also check small claims court records for lawsuits.



Of course it takes quite a bit to get someone to spend time suing people. We all have better things to do with our lives, but keeping one's vehicle for weeks at a time, promising a certain settlement sum (but refusing to provide a written estimate) after the car is in parts, jacking the price up to a ridiculous level and pretending like the client is an idiot and that the shop is doing the client a favor is a problem. A horrendous paint job after keeping the car for weeks just adds insult to injury and refusing to honor the lifetime warranty is the ultimate provocation, especially when the bodyshop again has stripped part of the car and the customer has no choice but to complete the repair where the car resides, since it's in pieces. Finally, offering to "split the cost" and then jacking up the "warranty repair" price to beyond what a reputable shop would charge leaves no doubt that the intent to defraud is deliberate.



The internet is naturally a resource to report one's experiences, but it exposes one to threats and even retribution. Ultimately it's very difficult, however, for a shop to back up such threats without the risk of running afoul of law enforcement, so a conscientious consumer will feel compelled to report very negative experiences even in the face of such belligerent conduct.



So, while Yelp is a wonderful resource and can reveal parts of the truth, it should be viewed with some suspicion. Positive reviews can be introduced by the business themselves to make themselves look better than they really are. Sometimes negative reviews are biased and it's conceivable competitors could stoop to such a tactic, but when facts are outlined and confirmed by independent review, one should beware. As noted above, customers may be reluctant to expose themselves to retribution, so complaints, if anything, tend to be very attenuated and don't reveal the full extent of the problem.



But in either case, one should never engage any shop without several competing estimates and one should never trust verbal promises. Otherwise, one is bound to regret their trusting nature.



Of course, some people insist on building houses on top of active volcanos and in the middle of earthquake faults. We all have our weak points. But for those who seek simplicity and tranquility, forewarned is forearmed.



Food for thought.